The perfect traveller companion – Marloe SkySplitter

For those of us in the watch community, there are plenty of specifications that make us smile. I’m not sure why we’re built this way, but we’re spec-driven beasts. When it comes to GMT watches, we often forget the limitations of the movements and how they affect the size, proportions, and even the look of the dial. Instead, we become more critical, and perhaps that’s tied to the price tags on the watches being offered.

The quest for the perfect diver is easy to define: size preferences are clear, the dial layout is familiar, and the functions are fairly standard. With our beloved GMTs, though, the quest becomes an odyssey; a list of complaints about almost every watch.

I visited British Watchmakers’ Day this year, and it’s always a pleasure to see what Marloe is offering. I remember reviewing the Coniston back in the day, and the quality, especially the lume application, was something I hadn’t experienced at this price point. That hasn’t changed, which is rare in the industry, and the overall quality has only gone up.

The watch that immediately caught my eye was the SkySplitter. As soon as I saw that grainy grey dial, I moved closer and started looking for flaws. I couldn’t find any. The size was right, and the price was right, so what’s the catch? Sure, it doesn’t have a traditional rotating bezel to track three time zones (if we even care), but that’s part of what makes it great. It’s an aviation-inspired watch, and for a GMT, that approach makes far more sense as a complete package.

Join me as we discover what is, to me, one of the best watches of 2026. I’m not exaggerating. Let’s begin.

The specifications

The SkySplitter is compact and sleek, and that’s thanks to the amount of work that has gone into the stainless-steel case. Measuring 40 mm in diameter, with a lug-to-lug under 46 mm, it’s a true all-rounder: a watch you can wear every day with no fuss, and a proper GADA. The case design is outstanding, with broad bevels running along the sides that contrast nicely with the bead-blasted surfaces. The lugs have a pleasing curve, and the knurling on the bezel alternates polished and matte surfaces very well.

Marloe kindly sent us the Airway variant, which is a brilliant combination of colours. There is also a more traditional black-dial version, the Jetstream, and it’s a looker too.

As for the dial, there is quite a bit going on. It definitely brings a cockpit to mind, but it’s well laid out: busy, yet organised. That’s the hallmark of a proper tool watch. The matte grey dial contrasts with the yellow hour markers around the perimeter, which are split by a black and turquoise strip indicating day and night. The centres of all the hands are painted in the same grey as the dial, creating a convincing ‘floating’ effect. The dial text is also very subtle, almost invisible, which is a great choice to keep everything uncluttered, similar to Breguet’s understated approach.

The wide, short hour hand is a departure from traditional fliegers, and it works well here; it lets the dial breathe, while making the hour hand easier to distinguish from the minute hand. The yellow counterbalance on the seconds hand evokes aircraft runways, and the date, neatly framed and printed in silver (a lovely detail), is paired with altitude-style markers that complete the aviation theme. I’m not usually a fan of themed watches, but with the SkySplitter everything feels subtle and in its place. Nothing shouts, ‘I’m a watch that looks like a plane.’ Even the yellow GMT hand tip, shaped more like a bird in my opinion, fits naturally. Everything just works.

Turn the watch over and you’re greeted by a beautifully engraved caseback, including a lightning-bolt symbol highlighting the SkySplitter’s anti-magnetic capabilities. Inside is the Miyota 9075, a ‘true’ GMT movement. It’s satisfying to operate, with a crisp click at midnight when the date changes, and it’s genuinely reassuring to watch the local hour hand jump independently. A screw-down crown and caseback provide a very reassuring 200 metres of water resistance; another signature of a true tool watch.

On the wrist

Thanks to its proportions, the SkySplitter wears beautifully on my 6.25-inch wrist. The lug shape, combined with the 12.45 mm thickness, helps keep everything secure, slim, and tidy. It’s impressive to have an anti-magnetic watch with these functions in such a thin package. The Miyota movement plays its part, of course, but it’s the brand’s case engineering that makes it all come together.

Legibility is excellent. The lume is evenly applied, potent, and long-lasting. The white hand tips contrast well under the sapphire crystal, which has a good amount of anti-reflective coating. I hope the photographs do justice to the way the watch catches and reflects the light.

The watch also comes with an H-link bracelet in a bead-blasted finish, plus a hidden micro-adjustment in the clasp. I really enjoy the full-bracelet look, but for versatility Marloe includes quick-release spring bars and a second strap (a grey pilot strap), which makes the SkySplitter genuinely adaptable.

I wore the SkySplitter everywhere, from the gym to the office, and it never disappointed. The size is what always gets me: it’s easy to wear, it isn’t a loud statement piece, and it gives you all the information you need for daily use.

Concluding thoughts

There is no real negative to the SkySplitter. For me, it’s the perfect companion for any adventure, or even casual wear, because it blends in so naturally. The attention to detail is exactly what enthusiasts appreciate; every time you look at the dial, you notice something new that makes you smile, and we haven’t even talked about the price yet.

The SkySplitter is priced at £599, which is extraordinary. It not only undercuts much of the competition, but also bridges the quality gap to bigger names such as Longines, and even edges into Sinn territory, which is the ultimate compliment in my book.

The SkySplitter is for people who are trying to get close to a one-watch collection: a watch that can do it all, while offering great looks, strong performance, and real affordability. It’s the ultimate GMT, no sugar-coating.

For more information please visit: https://www.marloewatchcompany.com/products/skysplitter-airway

The specifications

• Assembled in-househouse

• 40mm diameter x 12.45mm depth

• 20mm lugs

• Dual-finish bespoke Aero case

• Screw-down crown

• GMT function

• Anti-magnetic protection

• Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating

• Multi-layer altimeter textured dial

• Luminous hands & indices

• Altimeter hand design

• Hairline seconds hands w/ striped counterweight

• 95g with leather / 169g with bracelet

• 20 ATM

• First Edition of 250 pieces

• Miyota 9075 automatic movement

• Japanese Made

• 28,800 bph

• 24 jewels

• Handwinding override capability

• 40+ hour power reserve

• Accuracy of -10 ~ + 30 sec/day

• Hacking function

• Parashock anti-shock